EAGLE PASS—Nearly a month after the U.S. Supreme Court moved to allow federal agents to tear down Texas’ barriers along the southern border, the state’s forces are continuing to hold their ground.
Currently, as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star initiative, Texas National Guard and the Department of Public Safety have placed concertina wire and other barriers along the Rio Grande in an effort to deter illegal crossings.
After the Biden administration ordered Border Patrol personnel last year to cut down the barriers to allow illegal aliens to pass through, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals placed an injunction preventing them from doing so. Last month, however, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted that injunction, allowing the destruction of the barriers to resume.
But while immediately after the decision many observers expected federal agents to resume destruction of the barriers, weeks later that hasn’t happened.
Instead, at Shelby Park—a hotspot of crossings in Eagle Pass that was seized by the state—more barriers in the form of razor wire and shipping container blockades have been placed than when the decision was first announced last month.
While the result may be due to a combination of factors, recent reports have indicated that illegal crossings have decreased in Texas and shifted to other parts of the country like Arizona and California. In December, the Del Rio sector—which includes Eagle Pass—saw the largest decrease.
Recent moves from Gov. Greg Abbott have suggested that the state’s involvement in preventing illegal border crossings shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Last week, Abbott announced the construction on an 80 acre base for Texas National Guard soldiers in Eagle Pass. The base will be able to house up to 1,800 soldiers and will have the ability to take in 500 additional troops. Currently soldiers have been quartered in hotels and rental properties throughout the region.
“In the coming weeks, we will also be expanding operations north and south of Eagle Pass, putting up additional barriers to fortify our border,” said Texas Border Czar Mike Banks following the announcement. “We are also adding three more fan boats and expanding our drone program radar truck capabilities. Under Governor Abbott’s leadership, we are deploying every available resource and strategy to protect and defend Texas.”
